SUZHOU, China, Dec. 29, 2025 -- On 18 December 2025, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)'s Academy of Film and Creative Technology officially launched its immersive dome cinema, as well as kicked off the fifth MEGA International Creative Media Festival, and announced the establishment of the International Immersive Media Creation Alliance.

Together, the three initiatives mark a significant step in advancing immersive media education, creative practice, and industry collaboration at the University.

A key highlight of the day was the opening of the immersive dome cinema at XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang). Featuring an 18m-diameter dome with 8K resolution imagery and a fully enveloping sound system, the space offers a highly immersive digital environment.

The cinema is equipped with a self-illuminating LED display, providing a 110°×180° wraparound field of view.

Professor Qian Liu, Dean of the Academy of Film and Creative Technology, said: "The immersive display environment enables abstract ideas that were previously difficult to convey to become intuitive and tangible. As a facility at the international forefront and a pioneering initiative within higher education, the dome cinema will provide an important platform for cross-disciplinary teaching, research, and creative practice."

Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of XJTLU, added that the dome cinema introduces a new spatial paradigm for creative expression, enabling staff and students to explore a deeper relationship between humans and technology.

Held alongside the launch of the dome cinema, the fifth MEGA International Creative Media Festival was themed "Immersion". Focusing on film, digital media arts and creative technology, the festival provided an international platform for exchange through screenings, competitions, and a themed summit.

New categories for AI-generated content and short-form video were introduced this year. The festival received 1,384 submissions from 14 countries and regions, representing a 67% increase compared with the previous edition and marking a record high. Fourteen teams and individual creators were recognised with awards. The opening ceremony livestream attracted more than 2.07 million views, reflecting the festival's growing international reach.

The themed summit, titled "Immersive Future: Scene Revolution and Value Innovation Driven by Immersive Media", brought together experts from universities, industry, and creative institutions to discuss how immersive technologies are reshaping content creation, spatial experience and future application scenarios.

On the same day, the International Immersive Media Creation Alliance, initiated by the Academy of Film and Creative Technology, was officially established.